Mental Health Is Community Health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month — a time to shine a light on the importance of emotional well-being. But for Create Healthy, supporting mental health isn’t reserved for just one month. It’s woven into our year-round commitment to building a healthier Hill Country.
Mental health affects every part of life: relationships, school, work, and physical health. When people have access to support — when they feel seen, safe, and connected — the whole community benefits. That’s why we continue to invest in programs that break stigma, increase access, and bring care closer to the people who need it most.
Why We Invest in Mental Health
Mental health is more than a diagnosis — it’s about resilience, connection, and the ability to thrive in daily life. And like all areas of health, mental health is shaped by access: to care, to stability, and to support systems that meet people where they are.
At Create Healthy, we know that emotional wellness intersects with everything else we fund — from education and childcare to food security and crisis response. Supporting mental health is core to what we do. Through grants, sponsorships, and matching gifts, Create Healthy invests in strengthening the mental health infrastructure that benefits everyone in the Hill Country.
How We’re Strengthening Mental Health Systems Together
In 2022, after years of funding various local mental health programs, Create Healthy noticed a pattern: many providers were working in silos. There were overlapping services, duplicate efforts, and critical communication gaps that made it harder for people to get the right support.
So, we did what we always do when something needs attention — we brought people together.
Create Healthy’s Mental Health Coalition is a space for local providers, advocates, and organizations to connect, share resources, and strengthen the network of mental health care across the Hill Country.
“We felt like we were each solving the same puzzle separately. Now, through the coalition, we’re working from the same table,” said Mikki Hand, Mental Health Coalition Chair.
In the first year alone, the coalition surfaced new partnerships, streamlined referral pathways, and identified shared goals across programs.
“There were moments in those early meetings where we all looked at each other and said, ‘Why haven’t we been talking this whole time?’ That’s the power of what Create Healthy made possible,” added Hand.
What We Fund (And Why It Matters)
Create Healthy supports a broad range of mental health initiatives through their partners, including:
- One-on-one bilingual therapy and counseling
- Trauma-informed care for survivors and youth
- School-based mental health and social-emotional learning
- Group support for parents, caregivers, and teens.
- Community education and mental health literacy training
- Mental health access in underserved communities
When people feel supported emotionally, they’re more likely to be healthy physically, engaged socially, and stable economically. In other words, mental health is community health.
What You Can Do This Month
Mental Health Awareness Month is a reminder — but real impact comes from long-term investment and everyday action. Here’s how you can join us:
✔️ Volunteer with a local nonprofit supporting mental health
✔️ Donate to help fund counseling, education, and crisis care
✔️ Start the conversation with your friends, family, and coworkers
✔️ Reach out if you or someone you love is struggling
✔️ Advocate for policies and programs that prioritize emotional well-being
“Mental health doesn’t start in a therapist’s office — it starts in homes, schools, and communities like ours,” added Hand.
Together, we can build a Hill Country where care is accessible, stigma is erased, and no one struggles alone.
